Tag: Rashard Higgins

7 WRs the Colts should target in free agency

WRs for the Colts in free agency.

With immense salary cap space and a massive need at the position, the Indianapolis Colts could very well find their way into the wide receiver market once free agency officially opens.

The depth in the market isn’t all that strong, and there are plenty of risks to take with adding any one of the options. But the Colts need to begin investing in higher-end talent in the room. Signing a wide receiver in free agency won’t stop them from drafting one, either.

As free agency approaches next week, here are seven wide receivers the Colts should consider signing:

Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

Amari Cooper | Dallas Cowboys | Age: 25

We won’t know the status of Cooper likely until Monday of next week, which is the deadline for teams to submit the franchise and transition tags. As the current CBA goes, teams can use both in the same offseason—something that wasn’t allowed in the past. This means the Cowboys can franchise tag Dak Prescott and transition tag Cooper, keeping both off the market.

>>>Amari Cooper free agency profile<<<

If Cooper does hit the market, the Colts shouldn’t be afraid to lead the negotiations. Though he’s been inconsistent at times, Cooper presents the Colts with an option to be the WR1 when T.Y. Hilton leaves, which could be as early as the 2021 season.

Cooper’s talent is through the roof. He’s an extremely polished route runner and is coming off of his best year yet. The Colts shouldn’t hesitate if he hits the market.

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Colts’ 2020 free agency target: WR Rashard Higgins

Rashard Higgins would be a cheap option for the Colts.

Even though the Indianapolis Colts have a massive need at the wide receiver position, it doesn’t mean they will be looking for the top-dollar options in free agency. Could that make Rashard Higgins a potential target?

The Road So Far

After being selected as a fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, Higgins spent the last four seasons as a depth player in the Browns wide receiver room.

His best season came in 2018 when Baker Mayfield took the reins under center. In that campaign, Higgins recorded career-highs in receptions (39), yards (572), receiving touchdowns (four) and yards per reception (14.7).

After the Browns acquired Odell Beckham Jr. and the offense went into decline in 2019, Higgins was an afterthought. He saw just 11 targets in 2019.

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Fit With The Colts

The Colts are sorely lacking explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball. This could lead them to look at the wide receiver market in free agency. Higgins would be a nice fit to work as a complement to T.Y. Hilton on the outside and in the slot.

Higgins has great hands and could provide the Colts with a solid complementary weapon. At 25 years old, Higgins has showcased above-average tracking abilities and there is vast potential getting him to work out of the slot at times in Frank Reich’s offense.

Higgins wouldn’t need to be relied upon as the WR1 or potentially even the WR2 at times depending on how the draft goes, but he would be a solid addition to the wide receiver corps.

Price

One of the reasons Higgins is an option for the Colts is his price. The Colts would be able to sign Higgins to a one-year deal at nearly nothing annually—probably around $4 million. We know Chris Ballard doesn’t like to splurge in free agency but he doesn’t mind targeting cheap options with high upside. That’s what Higgins would bring to the Colts if they pursued him in free agency.

Conclusion

Higgins isn’t the most exciting option and he certainly wouldn’t be the one to carry the wide receiver room. But depth is need, and Higgins is young enough and cheap enough to where Ballard might be intrigued. Higgins also possesses some upside, which is always a factor for Ballard.

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2020 NFL Free Agency: Rashard Higgins, Joe Schobert among Browns options

The Cleveland Browns have intriguing options for the New Orleans Saints: WR Rashard Higgins and LB Joe Schobert are both pending free agents

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We continue our series here at Saints Wire looking at every team across the NFL and the Cleveland Browns are who we will focus on today. Cleveland does not have a large number of free agents heading into 2020, and as such, do not provide clear-cut options for the New Orleans Saints. Here are the 14 free agents for the Browns in 2020:

  • LT Greg Robinson
  • QB Drew Stanton
  • WR Rashard Higgins
  • FS Damarious Randall
  • ILB Joe Schobert
  • FS Eric Murray
  • CB Justin Burris
  • RB Kareem Hunt (RFA)
  • G Justin McCray (RFA)
  • TE Ricky Seals-Jones (RFA)
  • DE Bryan Cox Jr. (RFA)
  • WR Khadarel Hodge (ERFA)
  • RB Dontrell Hilliard (ERFA)
  • TE Pharaoh Brown (ERFA)

One of the only free agents the Saints could possibly be interested in is linebacker Joe Schobert. In 2019, Schobert played in all 16 games and averaged over 99% of defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus grades Schobert’s season out at 59.1, which was just slightly above average at the position. New Orleans could conceivably sign the 28-year old to a multi-year deal, but with better options in the market, it seems unlikely.

Another name that could pop up in discussions for the Saints is Damarious Randall. The free safety missed time in 2019 with a hamstring injury and with discipline issues. New Orleans usually likes to stay away from players that could pose an issue in the locker room. However, when Randall took the field, he was one of the better safeties, and the Saints could take a flyer on a player with high potential like Randall. However, the safety won’t come cheap, which likely puts the Saints out of the running.

Finally, Rashard Higgins could be the one intriguing option for New Orleans in free agency. Higgins proved to be a competent receiver during his 2018 campaign. However, 2019 saw the arrival of Odell Beckham Jr. and the resurgence of Jarvis Landry. Higgins had to fight to see time as the team’s third receiver, especially with Antonio Callaway in the mix. Without a clear-cut number two wide receiver on the New Orleans staff, the Saints could sign Higgins to a team-friendly deal. Higgins has the potential to be an explosive player, and could thrive in Sean Payton’s system.

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Myles Garrett is reinstated: What’s next for the Browns

What’s next on the docket for the Browns?

Myles Garrett has officially been reinstated by the NFL, per a joint release from the Cleveland Browns and the league.

Cleveland Browns General Manager Andrew Berry released a statement shortly after Garrett’s reinstatement became official.

We welcome Myles back to our organization with open arms. We know he is grateful to be reinstated, eager to put the past behind him and continue to evolve and grow as a leader. We look forward to having his strong positive presence back as a teammate, player and person in our community.

With the Browns able to move past Garrett’s reinstatement, we should all be asking the question “what’s next for the Cleveland Browns?”

NFL Scouting Combine: February 24 – March 2

While it feels like a distant memory, the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl saw the Cleveland Browns send an entourage of their former Vice President of Player Personnel, Alonzo Highsmith, and former Assistant General Manager, Eliot Wolf, to the Senior Bowl for scouting purposes. Since the Senior Bowl, both Highsmith and Wolf have been relieved of their duties. With this in mind, the Cleveland Browns, with their front office and coaching staff fully in place, will finally have the opportunity to have meaningful conversations with the prospects of the 2020 NFL Draft. It should also be mentioned this time last year, at the 2019 NFL Combine, when the groundwork for the Olivier Vernon and Odell Beckham trade was constructed.

For the Browns, there is only so much to be done in a week in Indianapolis, However, this is where first contact will be done with potential future Cleveland Browns players and an opportunity for Andrew Berry to build a network of trade partners.

Negotiating with unrestricted free agents: March 16 – 18

Key Browns Free Agents: Greg Robinson, OT (UFA), Rashard Higgins, WR (UFA), Damarious Randall, S (UFA), Kareem Hunt, RB (RFA), Joe Schobert, iLB (UFA)

Per Spotrac, the Cleveland Browns currently have an estimated $48.9 million in cap space available. This is a lot of money, 15th most in the NFL, but there are a lot of holes to fill on the Cleveland Browns roster. It is not realistic for the Browns to take almost $50 million in cap space and fix multiple holes along the offensive line, replace both safety spots, add an interior run stuffer, and reshuffle their linebacker room. It is just not realistic for impact players to be added at all of those positions.

Wrap Up

There are plenty of things for the Browns to move on to next. The NFL combine, free agency, further building out their coaching staff, and trade negotiations are all key offseason landmarks for us to pay attention to. As Browns fans, there we should lament in the fact we have no losses in 2020 and the franchise still has plenty of assets to keep all of these events throughout the offseason interesting.

 

Week 11 Fantasy Preview: Browns vs Steelers

Week 11 Fantasy Preview: Browns vs Steelers

How should fantasy football players handle the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers? Is Kareem Hunt worth starting? What about Baker Mayfield or Mason Rudolph?

The Matchup

Since the acquisition of Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety, the Steelers defense has been why the Steelers have won games. The defensive unit been opportunistic and applies pressure on opposing defenses from all levels of the field. Additionally, the defense has not allowed the sins of their offense to penalize the team on their four-game winning streak. Especially when the offense has gone three consecutive weeks turning the ball over on their opening drive.

While the defense has been great, I will ask this question of everyone reading this: “who have the Steelers played!?”

In Week 10 the Steelers played the broken down L.A. Rams coming to the east coach. Week 9 saw the Steelers knock Jacoby Brissett out early and go against Brian Hoyer for the majority of the game. The Week 8 Miami Dolphins put up a fight for the first half and then completely lost offensive momentum to sustain a lead. Finally, the Week 6 Chargers were led by Phillip Rivers’ strong two-interception game and Melvin Gordon trying to knock off the rust from a lengthy holdout.

What about the opposing weapons? They have to be better against this new age “Steel Curtain”, right? The media is clamoring about how great the Steelers defense is. They must have shut down amazing levels of talent on the opposing side of the field. In Week 10 the Steelers did a great job shutting down Cooper Kupp for the first time all season. The Rams also didn’t have Brandin Cooks and have dealt with significant injuries to their offensive line recently.

The Colts have been putting a band-aid on their pass-catchers with TY Hilton out. Their keynote wide receiver has been Zach Pascal. The Miami Dolphins were running out the dynamic combination of Preston Williams and DeVante Parker. I bet this defensive secondary would do great against the wide receivers in the Washington Redskins or the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This should not be a shock to anyone after reading the above information. The Browns may be the best offense the Steelers have faced since their Week 5 opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.

Baker Mayfield

The Steelers have on average allowed 216 passing yards and 1.7 passing touchdowns over their last three games, which includes a zero touchdown game from Jared Goff. While this is a small sample size, I think Jared Goff’s meltdown can really make their defense look better than it really is. Baker Mayfield should be considered a top-15 quarterback in a decent matchup at home.

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt

I am lumping these two together because there are still a lot of questions about total opportunity splits between these two. Week 10 saw Kareem Hunt earn 13 opportunities to touch the ball (9 targets and 4 rushes) and Nick Chubb saw 24 opportunities (20 rushes and 4 targets). It is still too early to say if those numbers will shift dependent on game script or hot hand. I would be willing to consider both FIRMLY in the top-24 conversation and Hunt would also be a great FLEX play.

Odell Beckham Jr.

In Week 10 Beckham earned his highest number of targets of the season and his first double-digit target game since Week 6 against the Seahawks. Additionally, the voluminous target share came in a negative matchup against one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. In Week 11, OBJ draws former Browns cornerback Joe Hayden. This may be the softest cornerback matchup OBJ has seen since Week 6 against the Seahawks when he erupted for his first 100-yard game of the season. This Week 11 matchup has the makings of a breakout game for Odell Beckham Jr. He should be considered a top-5 option on the week.

Jarvis Landry

There is no doubt Jarvis Landry is the best wide receiver on the Cleveland Browns right now. He is a leader with his game play and how he works on the sideline. For fantasy teams, Jarvis Landry is a steady WR2. He will get you exactly what you were hoping for from the position and show up every week. I would have no worries about getting him into your lineup.

Biggest question

I don’t know if Antonio Callaway is out of the doghouse or if Rashard Higgins will be given his opportunity to play more. I would love to see Higgins on the field because of his undeniable connection with Baker Mayfield and his route running ability. I would not trust either one in my lineup.

Update: Callaway has been cut. 

5 big plays from the Browns’ Week 10 win vs. Buffalo

Not everything was positive but there were some great highlights too

What moments stood out from the Browns’ big 19-16 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 10?

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt usage

Both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were used on over 50% of the Cleveland Browns offensive snaps in Week 10 against the Bills. In this play, not only are both runners on the field, but Kareem Hunt delivers a block to help establish Nick Chubb’s cut back lane for a great run.

Jarvis Landry great catch for a touchdown

Landry has been the best and most reliable wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns in 2019. On this play, Landry makes a great hands catch extending his arms away from his body. After the play, Landry was called for a taunting penalty and Austin Seibert ultimately missed the field goal. This was a great play and also a reminder to not let yourself get caught up in the heat of the moment.

Rashard Higgins game-winning touchdown

Browns fans have been rooting for Higgins to get more playing time and he did. Higgins finished Week 10 with 47% of the offensive snaps. While this was a great catch and I enjoyed seeing Higgins on the field, I also wonder if he would have been on the field if Antonio Callaway wouldn’t have been benched (click here for the full story). I will be watching closely to see if Higgins’ usage continues to trend up or if Callaway returns to the field and supplants Higgins.

Baker Mayfield safety

One of my biggest concerns with Baker Mayfield is his ability to get the ball out on time and this play perfectly outlines why. While the play design is horrible and there should have been a runner in the backfield with pass protection duties, it is also on the quarterback to deliver the ball when his back foot hits on the three-step drop. Mayfield double clutches and tries to scan the field for another option. If the ball was thrown on time, it could have been thrown away. Instead, Mayfield tries to make “the big play” and takes a safety.

Incredible Jarvis Landry catch to set up the game-winning score

As mentioned earlier, Landry has been the best wide receiver for the Browns in 2019. This play shows not only great concentration, but also his ability to adjust to the ball in the air. While we shouldn’t dwell on Odell Beckham uncovering himself in the deep middle or Kareem Hunt being wide open on the right side of the field, the catch was great and set up the game-winning touchdown to Rashard Higgins.